GPS look to set piece and “home crowd” advantage against UQ in decider

By Tom Primmer

When GPS take to the hallowed turf of Suncorp Stadium this weekend, they should do so with a huge crowd in blue and green filling the stands behind them.

The Gallopers have qualified for all three deciders at the Cauldron, with their Premier Women’s, Colts 1 and Premier Grade sides featuring in all three matches on Sunday.

There’s a buzz around the club and wider Ashgrove community this weekend as the club looks to cap what has already been a very successful season.

“Grand Finals are very special for the club,” head coach Shane Arnold said. 

“We have only won four in the club’s history, so they are hard to win. 

“The teams loves playing in front of a GPS crowd and hopefully plenty come out and support.”

Jeeps needed every bit of crowd support they could muster last weekend, with a Matt Gicquel try and Jason Hofmeyr sideline conversion eventually sealing a dramatic win for the side after the buzzer. 

They’ll need to be better this weekend, with Arnold and his team focusing on being more clinical around the park after close to a month off the field. 

“Our focus is on being better then last week,” Arnold said. 

“We need to tidy up at breakdown and defence. 

“The game will be won and lost at set piece. Both teams are strong in this area”

Jeeps have named an unchanged side to take on their rivals UQ, with the sides splitting their two games one-apiece so far this season. 

Emosi Tuqiri, Maile Ngauamo and Jack Straker will look to get their side on the front foot at scrum time, with experienced duo Fred Burke and Matt Mafi backing them up off the bench. 

Dan Byrne and Ollie Bartlett start in the second row, as 2018 premiership winners Michael Richards and Matt Gicquel run on alongside Ratu Vio in the back row. 

Youngster Josh Vuta will start in the number nine jersey and combine with newly crowned ‘Iceman’ Jason Hofmeyr in the halves. 

Chris Kuridrani and Maaloga Konelio add starch to the backline, with speedster Josh Collins, Pat Nicholson and Mitch Treleaven making up the back three.



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